Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-08-30
ress and 9akataials
CLIFFORD AND HIS INTENTIONS.

4
CLIFFORD AND HIS INTENTIONS.
A sketch of the Carer ota's
DeieEate-yyhAt he Will Try to do In
Congress- Next Winter.
Canton correspondence st. Paul
Pioneer Press; Delegate GiFord's home
rises upon q beautiful hill in a beautiful
little CITY, winch in turn rests upon one
of the prettiests valleys to be found in
the country. The Sioux bubbles merrily
down the ineiine-ffom Kampeska to
the murky old Missouri--past Watertown
fIandrau, Dell Rapids, Sioux Falls,
thence to Canton and down to the gull
outlet, LIZ ISL productive valley, the
nome GiTwealth and plenty. 1t was over
this river that the first white man tramp
ed into Dakota, and over it's silver water
was built the first railroad bridge and
transported the maiden train INTO the
land of plenty, Canton. the gateway to
Dakota, was founded in 1881, bat the
real settlement did not commence until
ten years later. Judge Clifford located
here IN the T0s. He commenced reading
law with Mark w. Bailey, a bright young
Blaokstone expounder. and q shingie
was thrown on the outer wall bearing
the legend Bailey & Clifford. The Judge
was elected Justice OF the peace, and
afterward Mark Bailey was sent to the
Dakota Legislature. They made money
rapidly. Mr.. Bailey did not live
long. however, t o share the pros,
perity OF the firm, consumption hav.
ing marked him as O victim. The
shlngle was changed to plain
20. u. Clifford, attorney of law" and
the Judge winked and blinked and shook
his shaggy black eyebrows as usual. In
~ the Judge was treated to his first
political knockdown, The legislature
that winter divided the territory into
new judicial districts and abolished the
office Of county attorney. The act also
provided for the election of o prosecut-
ing attorney for each district, and our
present delegate suddenly threw him.
self into the field as q candidate from
this. the second federal district. The
convention was held at. Yenkion. and
All Flagg of Sioux Falls hoodooed the
Judge out of the nomination. FiagR
aiterward went to the bad, was convicted
OF embezzlement and sentenced to five
years Imprisonment in the territorial
penitentiary. The career of Fiagg
rather put o quietus upon the Judge for
= ~ W 0teA tSaa n2 lIlB6 WlCn
the office of mayor of Canton during the
early SOS. But in 1882 he became iecis.
latively ambitious and once ecain
jumped into the ring, this time as q can.
didate for the territorial council from
the subdivision OF Lincoln.
After a hard struggle tho judge
was again defeated, the nominee beng
II. A. Jerauld of Eden, who afterwardd
because notorious as the entering wedge
in the success of the capital commission
fraud. The Judge was as this time a
railroad attorney, and the fsrmerss crv
against that entered largely into the
causes of his defeat.
Lit would seem that the downfall of
Flagg and Jerauld might have lad
Judge Clifford to better ideas and higher
Hlrns than continuing in the maze and
wave of political life. In 1885, he went at
u again. In July Of that year the CAM
ton Advocate brought him ont as a can
diate Tor delegate in congress, and at
the convention in Pierre the south DIX
ota forces united and made him the re-
publican candidate. He was elected BY
over 50,0O0 majority, renominated and
se-elecEed last year. and will again act
for DakotB in the coming congress.
Ihe writer ran across Delegate Clifford
IN his law office on Main street to-day.
and enjoyed . talk upon this matters
that will come before congress-. MI.
Gifford o family had just returned from
. season at Big Stone lake, where thew
enjoyed q very pleasant stay. They
have secured summer quarters at Park
Endefly, on the western shore oil CHA
beautiful expanse of water, and. in oom-
pany with many Others, will erect cot
tages early next season. Among those
who are interested in Endsrly and who
VIII put up.suEmer residences next year
are Mayor Ames of Minneapolis. Judge
Drake, Dol. Plummer and Mayer Skill
man OF Aberdeen, Gov. Mellette OF
Watertown and Mayor Edwards OF Far
CO.. However, after the Judge had ex-
patiated sufficiently upon the charms
and beauties of Park Endsrly the writ.
er managed to steer him into q more inn.
portant conversation, embracing his con.
templated work before the next congress-
and the chances in favor OF the division.
admission and reservation bills. The
Judge said he would prepare before
congress meets about seventy bills and
introduce ell OF them at the frat oppor-
funItyp Among them will be q measure
Tor the dIyisIon and admission of Deko-
20 for at least two additional Judges. |
n about three new land DISTRICTS. In
regard to the great Sioux reservation he
said it was n OF the important meas-
ures, and he would push this in the |
house at the frat opportunity. The
bill will be very nearly the same as the |
dawes bill" in the last congress. NJ!
far MS he can now see, and all parties
have agreed upon nearly all OF the
provisions OF the bill. The opening OF
the reservation was very important. not
only to Dakota, but to the whole coun-I
try. III will place ahouttwenty thousand
Indians in q way TO be Helf-supportingI
within q very few yes1s. 1t viii be an
advanced step in the Indian problem,
p towards relieving the government
Of the burden of their support. One Of
the important duties OF o delegate in the
next congress will be to look after the
appropriation for the Improvement ofI
the Missouri and Red rivers. Lake
Traverse and Big Stone, Not only
should the Missouri be improved At
different points. especially about Bis
marck, for navigation purposes, but at
points near towns greet damages
are Sustained by reason OF overlows and
cutting banks. He ssyH he will naa